A CONSERVATIONIST'S WORLD
It is 2060 and another age of air travel has emerged, some have even described it as the new revolution for flight.
We see air taxis, small personal aircraft, and more airplanes in the sky than ever. Where did this come from? Well, in 2030 new technology was invented and tested to combat air pollutants that jets and airplanes create in the environment, adding to the then emerging global warming patterns. These new technologies stem from the need for a switch from traditional fossil fuels to a renewable source of energy that is safe for environmental standards to cut emissions by at least ~50%. These fuels come without being a detriment by using >1% of earth’s natural resources which don’t compete with livestock/food production. Every air travel company tried to come up with a way to invest in renewable energy fuel, but only a few were sustainable with the effort to transport an aircraft. The most popular in today’s time is the eVTOL (electric vehicle takeoff and landing). There are three different fuel types for eVTOLs today; helium mixed with electricity, hydrogen fuel cells, and battery-powered.
What's so revolutionary?
The most popular fuel type and cost-efficient for the consumer is the electric aircraft, using rechargeable lithium-ion batteries or hydrogen fuel cells, which are made from combining hydrogen with oxygen from the air in an efficient reaction that produces electricity, heat, and water. These 0 emission aircrafts have become universally popular and conveniently used not only for long-distance air travel but short distances as well. The invention of the air taxi has helped fight to reduce emissions and automobile traffic by 75% and is already in every big city and being scattered into cities with populations over 80,000. First seen is Seoul, Korea demonstrated by the South Korean Government for the public in 2022 with only being a 2-seater and traveling 5 miles, it was a successful mark for electric air travel and won over the public with its trust and productiveness. Since then, the air taxi has become more efficient and accessible to travel, using only the tap of a button so no more hollering and waving down the street for a ride like before. There are also booths located within specific buildings and on the streets to help reserve one for you. You could also download the app to have more conveniency on reserving your next lift! The price point depends on your travel distance and the type of air taxi you are reserving (solo, group, or lux) as prices start at $50 then add on at $2 per mile. There are airline air taxis that are prominently used for patrons needing a lift to the airport and will take you directly to your airplane due to new facial recognition, bag check, & TSA pre-check-in found inside the specific airline special air taxi! Once you arrive, you’ll be greeted by the sleek and substantial electric aircraft. These electric planes can be autonomous and travel at speeds around 600-700mph. These airplanes offer more comfortability than ever before with hundreds of more seats allowing everyone to have enough leg room with adjustable seating, spacious seats, and even better onscreen entertainment models that follow directions of your eyes if you don’t want to tap the screens. The best flight experience in the new revolution and it’s waiting for you to be the next seat filled!
Helium mixed with electricity is another fuel type that has gone through several generations of iterations to become the powerhouse that supports millions of flights today. In 2026 a company by the name of Air Nostrum began conducting short distance flights powered by helium. 4 years later, many companies adopted this method of flight as a preferred option for those looking to travel distances of 250 miles or less. Helium powered flights continued to gain traction and were steadily being adopted across the world by many airlines and their consumers. Today, helium powered flights account for a whopping 28% of total flights worldwide and the figure is steadily increasing as the technology continues to evolve to handle longer flights. Helium powered flights can conduct flights up to 9000 miles which is just 500 miles shorter than their jet fueled predecessor. Since the days of its infancy, the benefits of Helium powered flights have continued to grow. One of the benefits we have witnessed is a substantial 90% reduction in emissions when compared to traditional fuels. 40 years ago, air travel accounted for 10% of U.S. transportation emissions and 3% of America’s total greenhouse gas production. Since then that figure has been reduced to 0.7 and 0.3 percent, respectively. This, of course, is thanks to the several different efforts that have taken place to make fueling aircraft and flight possible while significantly reducing and sometimes outright eliminating the release of harmful emissions. Helium powered flight has been a powerful help in reducing those emissions and it is only predicted to get better. The max distance of travel is set to increase an additional 8% by 2064 and which would make it able to handle flights even longer than its predecessors.
A step in the right path...
As civilization has made a shift in how we treat our planet, we notice more opportunities in work, leisure, travel, etc. without doing damage or contributing to greenhouse gas emissions due to previous plans to ban the continuation of extracting fossil fuels or mass market selling of aircraft using such fuels. Our air is cleaner, the world is thriving, and our home is forever now. Urban air mobility was the best effort put forth to save our Earth, creating more land for animals, people, farms, and trees, all while lessening the effects of climate change. Every day is a step forward in the right direction to create an eco-friendly world.
